Bachelor's degree in vine and wine sciences

The main aim of the "Vine and Wine Sciences" degree is to help students who have completed their A-levels find their way into the wine industry by developing the skills they need either to continue their studies at Baccalaureate +5 level (DNO, Master's) in the same sector or to enter the wine industry in the fields of analysis, quality control and the wine industry environment.

The proposed structure aims (1) to integrate subject-based teaching on vines and wine from the first year and (2) to offer progressive customisation in chemistry or biology up to the choice of a vine/wine pathway in order to :

• Confirm the student's choice of sector of activity
• Acquire the skills needed to continue their studies at Bac+5 level within the wine sector itself, but also, thanks to customisation in chemistry or biology, be able to change direction if necessary
• Meet the needs of the job market according to the pathway chosen

The integration of the subject within the ST portal, followed by the customisation of chemistry or biology and finally the gradual organisation into two pathways, ensures that students can continue their studies in this sector or in a sector linked to agri-food, biotechnology, analysis or quality, as well as entering the job market in the wine analysis and control sector.

He/she is able to :

• Use the reference digital tools and IT security rules to process, produce and distribute information and to collaborate internally and externally.
• Identify, select and analyse with a critical mind various resources in the winegrowing and winemaking field in order to document a subject and summarise this data with a view to using it.
• Be able to express oneself orally and in writing in order to exchange technical information with other professionals in the wine industry.
• be able to read and understand without ambiguity a technical document written in English.
• be able to understand an oral technical conversation and take part in it in English.
• Use the communication tools essential for job hunting (CV, interview, network).
• Use its knowledge and skills in a work placement.
• Be able to understand, apply and promote the ethical values of the wine industry.
• Be able to read up on the legal framework for the production of wines, spirits and derived products and ensure that this framework is respected.
• Working as part of a team and network, as well as independently and responsibly in the service of a project.
• Analyse your actions in a professional situation and evaluate yourself in order to improve your practice.
• Be able to situate your job within the wine production industry. Know the players and their constraints.
• Be able to present, both orally and in writing, a project, results and ideas to a technical audience in the wine industry.
• Identify and characterise objects in the wine-growing sector at all scales in order to analyse their origins and current activity and deduce applications (resources, risks, environment, planning, etc.).
• Use the most common technical and economic diagnostic tools in the vine and wine sectors.
• Interpret technical and technico-economic data in order to envisage their modelling with a view to the development of companies in the wine-growing sector.
• Be able to use its knowledge of biology, microbiology and chemistry to diagnose the various stages in wine production.

Enrolment in L1

Candidates must hold :

A BAC with a scientific background (physics-chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics, engineering sciences, etc.).

Applications are assessed on the basis of a portfolio and professional project.

Applications are made by sup: https://www.parcoursup.fr/

For admission via parcours sup, applications are made via the  University of Bordeaux science and technology portal. 

The number of places is limited to 40.

Enrolment in L3

Candidates must have :

• training in the scientific fields (agronomy, biology, chemistry) or in the fields of analysis and control or any other diploma attesting to a level of higher education equivalent to 120 European credits in the same fields; or
• or one of the validations provided for in articles L. 335-5, L. 613-3, L. 613-4, L. 613-5 and L. 613-6 of the Education Code and the texts adopted for their application.

The course is open to initial and continuing training, VAE and VAPP students.

Applications are assessed on the basis of the student's portfolio and career plan. Applications are made online via the Université de Bordeaux website, using the eCandidat application..

The number of places is limited to 40 (15 analysis, quality and environment courses and 25 fundamental courses for oenology).

The "Vine and Wine Sciences" degree is part of the single Science and Technology portal of the University of Bordeaux, and offers progressive personalisation over the first two years (Semester 1 to Semester 4), enabling students to acquire both generalist skills in the field of biology or chemistry and specific skills in the wine sector. From the third year onwards, students can choose between 2 specific pathways to meet the needs of the job market, while also acquiring the skills they need to continue their studies at Bac+5 level.

As soon as they enter the degree course, in Semester 1 (Science and Technology Portal), students begin to learn about the challenges facing the wine and winemaking industry through a core course in Vine and Wine. At the end of Semester 1, they can choose to continue in S2, S3 and S4 in the SVV major, or switch to the Chemistry or Life Sciences major in the Science and Technology college, or even to another major in the Science and Technology college, depending on their choice of introductory UE.

At the end of semester 1 and during the second year (in S2, S3 and S4), students enrolled in the SVV specialisation systematically take a 6ECTS vine/wine subject unit each semester, enabling them to begin acquiring the fundamentals of chemistry, mathematics and physics as applied to oenology. At the same time, they take personalised courses in either biology or chemistry (which are the two main disciplines required for oenology).

At the end of the second year, students choose between two courses for semesters S5 and S6 of the third year:

• Fundamentals of viticulture and oenology, enabling students to acquire all the fundamentals they need to continue their studies at postgraduate level (Bac+5), with a preference for Master's degrees in SVV Sciences, DNO, VO engineering school, other Master's degrees in the wine sector and other Master's degrees in plant biotechnology.
• The Analysis, Quality and Environment pathway enables students either to enter the world of work, or to continue their studies at Bac+5 level in the SVV sector (DNO, master SVV) but also other masters in analysis and/or quality.

Organisation of the third year, Fundamentals of Oenology course

The Fundamentals of Oenology course in the Vine and Wine Sciences degree is a one-year course with 60 ECTS credits.

The course is organised around teaching units and periods spent in companies to enable students to acquire the fundamentals needed to pursue studies at Bac+5 level in the vine and wine sector.

The course is organised around 3 types of Teaching Units:

• UEs du socle commum (for 30 ECTS) enabling each student to acquire the cross-disciplinary skills common to the bachelor level and corresponding to the blocks of skills in the RNCP sheet.
• Open courses for 6 ECTS, enabling each student to broaden his or her field of expertise by taking courses outside the subject area.
• 24 ECTS of pathway courses specific to oenology and viticulture in order to acquire the scientific foundations for further study.

Rhythm of training

The course runs from September to July, with full-time teaching at ISVV and two periods of work experience in a company (3-week introductory course between September and October / 8-week end-of-course course in May and June).

  Calendar of the initial training course Fundamentals of oenology

  Calendar for initial training in Analysis, Quality and the Environment

 LSVV Analysis, Quality and Environment sandwich course Calendar

Block course

The course can be delivered in blocks of RNCP skills

• The Vine and Wine Sciences degree in "Fundamentals of Oenology" is designed to enable students to go on to study for a Master's degree in Vine and Wine Sciences or the Diplôme National d'Oenologue.
• The Vine and Wine Sciences degree in "Analysis, Quality and the Environment" is a course whose main objective is to enable students to enter the world of work directly after graduation, but which also enables the best candidates to go on to study for a Master's degree in Vine and Wine Sciences or the Diplôme National d'Oenologue.

Exemptions and equivalence of courses may be granted on application to the Teaching Committee.

 Program L3

The teaching methods used contribute to the acquisition of knowledge and skills through lectures, practical work, tutorials, site visits and periods spent in companies.
For students on work-study contracts (apprenticeship and professional contracts), the above teaching methods are supplemented by periods of skills acquisition in companies.

 Assessment of knowledge - Fundamentals of oenology course

 Analysis, quality and environment course

The course is accessible to people with special needs.
Accommodations and individualised support can be offered by the PHASE service.

Find out more : Étudiants à besoins spécifiques - Université de Bordeaux

L3 application timetable for 2024/2025

• Server opens and applications can be downloaded: 15 March to 15 April 2024
• Deadline for receipt of applications: 18 April 2024
• File selection committee: from 22 to 26/04/2024
• Final admission decision: 16 May 2024
• Start of training: 2 September 2024

Documents to be prepared for the application

In addition to the application form you have downloaded and completed, you will need to provide

• Last diploma obtained
• Transcripts since the baccalauréat
• One-page curriculum vitae
• Professional project in French
• Foreign students: proof of proficiency in French

Applications can be made online via the Université de Bordeaux website, using the eCandidat application.

Apply now

Students with foreign qualifications :

Visit the University of Bordeaux website:  Visit the Université de Bordeaux website

For national diplomas, tuition fees are set each year by joint order of the ministers responsible for higher education and the budget.

Registration fees for EU students for the 2023/2024 Bachelor's year (tuition fees + library): €170.

For more information, visit the Université de Bordeaux website: https://www.u-bordeaux.fr/formation/candidatures-et-inscriptions/cout-des-etudes

Continuing education is aimed at employees, the self-employed, jobseekers and, more generally, anyone who wants to learn, improve or validate their professional experience.

Depending on your status, there are a number of schemes that may enable you to benefit from financial aid. The ISVV Continuing Education Department will guide you in your dealings with the funding bodies and remains at your disposal for further information.